Riki Watanabe (1911 – 2013)After graduating from Tokyo Higher School of Art and Design in wood crafts, Watanabe worked with Bruno Taut, a German architect who had fled to Japan to escape the Nazis. Although he was well versed in the modernist ideals of the Bauhaus, Watanabe wanted to translate them into the Japanese culture. In 1949 he started his own design studio. Watanabe was involved in the formation of many of Japan's important design organizations, including the Japan Industrial Designers Association (1952) and the International Design Committee (1953). Masaru Katsumie, Isamu Kenmochi, Yusaku Kamekura, and Sori Yanagi were fellow founding members of the International Design Committee, which became the Good Design Committee (1959) and later the Japan Design Committee (1963). Rope chair, 1952 - "A low-cost item of furniture that struck a balance between Japanese traditions (low-level seating and natural materials) and a contemporary aesthetic."Source: Riki Watanabe: …

I don't usually straight up re-post things, but this is too good not to. It comes from Herman Miller's Instagram feed: Joining @esotericsurvey for #tackettthursday with a little esoterica from our Archives. Tackett was apparently contracted by Girard to lead Herman Miller's short-lived Objects program. This document opens.... "It is entirely possible that history will note the use of the word 'OBJECTS' as it is being used in the title of Herman Miller's newest division. It does indeed mark a new awareness of the significance of objects to our time. We who are aware of environment are excited by what Alexander Girard is telling us and showing us about objects. We are the first to understand that he is saying that objects are not incidental to our lives but primary and paramount. When Alexander Dorner used as his title for a book about Herbert Bayer 'The Way Beyond Art,' he accomplished the same function that Herman Miller accomplishes in using 'OB…

Orange County Courthouse / Central Justice Center by Richard Neutra (1968) Local firm Ramberg & Lowrey worked with Neutra on the project.

Photo: Julius Shulman, Getty Research Institute

Neutra elements at this large institutional scale makes me realize that more is definitely not always more.

Photo: Julius Shulman, Getty Research Institute As evident in the model above, this used to be a reflecting pool. This walkway used to be open. They didn't bother to turn the sign around after it was covered up. Genius

This used to be a reflecting pool as well. At least here they tried to simulate water with the decomposed granite. Photo: Julius Shulman, Getty Research Institute

The Bailey House (1958), Case Study House 21 by Pierre Koenig The house was auctioned off by Wright in 2006. It sold for $3.1 million and the buyer was Gallery SEOMI. It now operates as their gallery for contemporary art. Photo: Julius Shulman, Getty Research Institute

Photo: Julius Shulman, Getty Research Institute

Photo: Julius Shulman, Getty Research Institute

Photo: Julius Shulman, Getty Research Institute The custom Gerald McCabe/Pierre Koenig music center cabinet from CSH 21 was up for auction last month at Sotheby's. The estimate was $8-12k and it looks like it passed. In 2005 it sold for $16k. Gallery SEOMI should scoop it up and put it back in the house. Source: Sotheby's Along with the music center, the sofa and ottoman were all custom-made for the house by Gerald McCabe. While I'm spending Gallery SEOMI's money, they should probably pick up one of the McCabeSilhouette as well. More on that here. Photo: Julius Shulman,